US 11104245

A comprehensive analysis of U.S. Patent No. 11,104,245 reveals its focus on the burgeoning field of vehicle e-key technology, a technology that has also become the subject of significant patent litigation.

Patent Details:

• Title: Vehicles and cloud systems for sharing e-keys to access and use vehicles
• Assignee: Emerging Automotive LLC
• Inventors: Angel A. Penilla, Albert S. Penilla
• Filing Date: October 15, 2019
• Issue Date: August 31, 2021
• Abstract: The patent describes systems and methods for generating and sharing electronic keys (e-Keys) for vehicles. These e-Keys can be distributed to users and managed through cloud-based systems, allowing for shared access and use of a vehicle with specific privileges and conditions.

Plain-Language Summary of Independent Claims:

The patent includes three independent claims which define the core of its protected invention:

• Claim 1: This claim outlines a method for a server to manage vehicle access. It involves the server receiving a request to create a digital key (e-key) for a specific person to use a vehicle. This request includes details on how to send the e-key and any rules for using the car. The server then generates this e-key, which is linked to these rules. The e-key is sent to the recipient's device, and the vehicle is updated to recognize it. The server then receives data about how the vehicle is being used with this e-key, specifically monitoring for any violations of the set rules. If a rule is broken, a warning is sent to the recipient's device, the vehicle, or both.

• Claim 12: This claim focuses on the vehicle's role in this system. It describes a vehicle equipped with electronics and communication systems that can interact with a central server and a mobile device. The vehicle's system is designed to receive a request from a mobile device to unlock it. This request contains a unique access code that the mobile device has previously obtained from the server. This code has a set of user privileges associated with it. The vehicle then communicates with the server to verify the request. If authenticated, the vehicle grants the mobile device an electronic key, allowing the user to unlock and start the vehicle according to the permissions defined by the access code.

• Claim 15: This claim details a method for securely providing vehicle access through a portable device. A user requests access to a specific vehicle using their device. A central server then creates a unique access code with specific usage rights, based on the user's identity and their active permissions. This access code is encrypted and sent to the user's device. The user's device then wirelessly transmits this encrypted code to the vehicle. The vehicle decrypts the code and allows the user to operate the vehicle (unlock, start, drive, lock) through an app on their device, but only within the time limits and permissions specified in the access code.

Litigation and Legal Status:

As of May 13, 2026, U.S. Patent No. 11,104,245 is the subject of ongoing litigation. The assignee, Emerging Automotive LLC, has asserted this patent in lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against major automotive manufacturers, including Kia and Toyota.

Furthermore, there is a related case at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC), docketed as Emerging Automotive LLC v. Kia Corp, 26-1591. This case is an appeal from a decision of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in an inter partes review (IPR) proceeding, IPR2024-01167. These legal challenges indicate that the validity and infringement of this patent are being actively contested in federal courts. There is also a pending inter partes review (IPR2026-00059) at the PTAB.